IT is interesting to observe and learn how much the common law has helped protect our pristine environment and human life. But I feel that our laws and legislation still have a gap between protecting our natural ecosystems including forests, highlands and mountain ranges, rivers, coastal areas and coral reefs, and destroying in the name of development.
These ecosystems are being destroyed by greedy groups who reap our natural resources without giving a thought to other stakeholders. Then there are politicians who support what these groups are doing.
Take, for example, the situation in Kelantan. When the state faced the big flood last year, millions of ringgit were used for aid.
It is simple; when you log at water catchment areas, the debris from the logging will clog up the river and the ecosystem will collapse. Not only that but all the aquatic resources will also be greatly reduced as nesting and breeding sites are heavily eroded.
It should be noted that the budget to repair a river ecosystem is huge. The state government should think about the future environment. For a state to survive, an economical plan should be based on sustainable development.
For instance, trees are home to thousand of species of insects. Some of these insects are agents of pollinations for plants in our tropical rainforest, fruit trees and medicinal plants. They cost billions of ringgit when compared to timber.
If Singapore can afford to have forest reserves and getting more and more green, surely Kelantan can do the same.
The state has natural resources and these can be utilised, but sustainably. The future needs oxygen and fresh air, clean water and a good healthy life of living in harmony with nature.
Perhaps politicians and businessmen need to attend environmental and ecological classes. We should enjoy nature, not to destroy it.
We should create more biosphere reserves. The USM Biological School, with several environmental agencies, is trying to establish a biosphere reserve. It is highly recommended that all states have biosphere reserves. To date, we only have two: Tasik Chini in Pahang and Crocker Range in Sabah.
n Mashhor Mansor, Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang